Ten members of WVU’s social media marketing team have earned the prestigious honor of being HigherEDSocial’s Best Central Social Media Marketing Team of the Year.
The team, led by Tony Dobies, senior director of marketing, has been recognized for its work using social media marketing strategies to their full potential. This year, the team was nominated for its networking skills and dedication to WVU’s social media campaigns and accounts. The team consists of: Michael Cervelli, social media specialist; Geoff Coyle, senior social media editor; Morgan Goff, marketing strategist; Sean Hines, social media specialist; Rickie Huffman, marketing strategist; Adrienne Kemp-Rye, social media student worker; Corbin Mills; social media student worker; Kallie Nealis, social media specialist; David Ryan, senior marketing strategist, and Mark Webb, social media student worker.
This is the first year HigherED has held an awards ceremony recognizing social media departments. More than 100 different organizations were part of the competition.
“The team has done a wonderful job managing and monitoring social media accounts at perhaps the worst time. In general, social media platforms are filled with so much negativity - especially in pandemic times,” Dobies said. “But this group has been able to continue its strong work, promoting the University, messaging key information about COVID-19 protocols and more.”
Dobies said the WVU social media team showed resilience and tenacity during a time when constant negativity and vitriol were the norm on social media. Examples of their work included a “Country Roads” video filled with celebrities and famous Mountaineers, a higher ed-focused survey for social media managers and their mental health and maintaining consistency during the COVID-19 pandemic.